June 2003

Sveta's Story

EILIZABETH LAWRENCE
Street Patrol Medical Worker

Sveta is a lovely little girl of 11 years. She came to Odessa from another town with a friend Natasha 12yrs. Both have difficult home situations with alcoholic mothers and no father.

Not knowing Odessa they did not know where to sleep and asked if we knew of a shelter.

We were able to take them to a government shelter. The girls were frightened and unfortunately were not treated with the love and kindness they needed and so after several days they ran away.

With in days after running away they were glue sniffing and coyping the older girls in self harming. I was very concerned for Sveta as she had already told me she had a heart condition. A week later Natasha came alone saying that Sveta had collapsed the night before and had been taken to hospital.

We visited Sveta in hospital she was very pale and it was obvious she had been very ill. We were told that the plan was to transfer her back to a hospital from her town after the weekend. She had been cared for in hospital but no actual medical treatment given. Sveta was really pleased to see us and we gave her food and a present ( shoe box).

We also talked to Sveta about how much God loved her and gave a booklet ( based on Mat 20: 29-34) called " I am not alone" This includes a picture of a street child dirty and alone and then a picture with the same child in God's hands smiling and talking. Sveta listened and was interested but I could see from her face that she did not know and had not experienced what love was and so could not truly understand what we were saying. My prayer is she will remember the picture of the child in God's hands.

Sveta ran away again that weekend. I met her a few weeks later one morning standing in the middle of the street staring into space looking very lost and sad. Sveta was wearing an old torn skirt and t-shirt a jumper wrapped round her head (her head had been shaved in case of head lice) and only socks. It's difficult to know if she really recognized me as she had been glue sniffing. I reassured her that she could come back to the feeding programme and not to be afraid because she had run away. Sveta had not seen Natasha since being admitted to hospital. Walking away and leaving Sveta standing there broke my heart. I longed to be able to do more but knew that Sveta needs long term help, a home and that there are no quick fixes for children like her.

We have not seen either girls since this time.

Our prayer is that when we have the day centre open we will be able to help children like these so much more. That it will become a bridge to help children off the street, a safe place where we can reach out to them with God's love and care.

If we only save one child the work will not have been in vain. The parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7) shows us that to God each individual is precious and important. Sadly Sveta's story is not unusual and many of the street children have similar stories but each child is precious in the eyes of God. I pray that God will watch over Sveta and that something of the love we have shown will remain with her.